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Top 5 At 5: How the Drug Dependants Act Amendment Affects All Malaysians

Samantha Chong, Human Rights Lawyer & Drug Policy Reform Advocate

03-Jul-24 17:00

Top 5 At 5: How the Drug Dependants Act Amendment Affects All Malaysians

5. Mini Popek Popek Parlimen, where we bring you the biggest highlights from the Dewan Rakyat. Tonight, brain drain or longkang otak, Malaysia's stance on the South China Sea dispute as we get cozy with the Middle Kingdom and another day, another fight - this time about accusations that DAP wants to close KEMAS, the Community Development Department.

4. B. Batmanathan, better known as Batman, has gone viral for his efforts to save motorists from the dangers of potholes through guerilla tactics. We hear from the man himself as he tells us about why he's decided to take road safety into his own hands.

3. Earlier this week, 17-year old Chinese athlete Zhang Zhijie suffered a sudden cardiac arrest mid-match at the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, and passed away. The lack of immediate medical response has generated anger and criticism from netizens who think not enough of an effort was made to save the Zhijie's life. Dr Alzamani Idrose, President of the College of Emergency Physicians shares what quick medical intervention looks like.

2. Following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said she will be working together with the Higher Education Ministry to make sure all students who obtain 10As and above get a place in the matriculation programme. However, education rights groups consider this an insubstantial move in the face of bumiputera quotas. We revisit a conversation we had with Dr Lee Hwok-Aun, Senior Fellow of Malaysian Studies Programme from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

1. Our top story: The government has introduced an amendment to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act that would allow National Anti-Drug Agency officers to apprehend, treat and rehabilitate persons who are drug dependent or misusers. We discuss the implications of the drug laws, and how the amendments affect Malaysians with Samantha Chong, human rights lawyer and drug policy reform advocate.

Image credit: itakdalee, 123RF

Produced by: Dashran Yohan, Alia Zefri, Lim Sue Ann, Alena Nadia, Sudais Ferhard

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan


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Categories:  Law/Activismgovernmentsportshealth policyeducation

Tags:  drug reformparliamentdrug addictionmatriculationspmsportsbumiputera quotapotholes





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